Eleven
Today, Oz is eleven months old. Next month there will be cake and celebration and loved ones, but today there are snuggles and a wintery walk.
This month, Oscar’s mobility increased. He learned how to climb stairs (even falling off them once, to no ill effect) and walk behind his walker.
His personality comes out more and more every day. Recently, his communication skills have started to blossom. He clearly said “cat” (while pointing at a cat) at a Boxing Day party, twice, and hasn’t repeated it, although he often says “da” towards the dog. Mostly, he is becoming an expert at pointing and nodding. He’ll point at a sippy cup, and nod when you ask if that’s what he wants. This increase in understanding can also be frustrating — he knows when he DOESN’T want something, and makes that obvious. With food, he closes his mouth tightly and turns away; with other things, we get a full-on arched-back scream. He’s starting to understand signs — “more,” “all done,” “milk” — but doesn’t really make them yet.
Oz got teeth this month! All in the first week of the year, four teeth appeared, two up top and two on the bottom. Oz has taken his time figuring out how to use them, and delighted his mother by taking a bite of her sandwich the other day. With teeth has come an increased appetite for grown-up food. Cheese, meat and veggies are favorites; he’ll eat bread, but it’s not really exciting.
He is adventurous — under the right circumstances. New people take some time; he’d rather be held by a parent until he’s comfortable. But if he’s outside? At an unfamiliar playground recently, he hauled off, crawling away to a distant goal, heedless of parental presence. That’s bound to make front yard gardening tricky this summer.
It is so much fun watching Oz become more and more himself, busier and more involved with the world. Right now that involves wanting attention, not a perfect blog post! So that’s all. Happy Eleven Month Birthday, kiddo.
